Nov 1, 2006

LANGKAWI, Nov 1 (Bernama) -- Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Wednesday he will accept whatever decision by the government regarding his status as advisor to several government agencies and as an Umno member.

The former prime minister said he would accept it if the government wanted to terminate his posts as Proton and Langkawi Development Authority (Lada) advisor, among others.

"I will also abide (by the decision) if the Umno supreme council wants to suspend my party membership," he told reporters after visiting several development projects here.

He said he had heard about Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid's suggestion that his advisory services be terminated and also the Kedah Umno Youth's proposal that his Umno membership be suspended.

"I will not object. I will abide because all this is their right as the government and party," he said.

Asked whether the proposals were an effort to sideline him, Dr Mahathir repeated that it was their right.

He said he realised that he was losing popularity and as such, anything could be done to him.

"I'm supposed to attend a function organised by Perkida in Johor today and a function organised by a non-governmental organisation in Baling on Nov 3. But both functions have been cancelled and that shows that I'm becoming more unpopular," said Dr Mahathir who was accompanied by his wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamed Ali on the trip.

Asked whether he was attending the Umno general assembly in the middle of this month, he said that he was "still thinking" about it.

He said he was also "seriously considering" the Kubang Pasu Umno division's suggestion not to be too critical of the government and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.